Bungoma man disowns his dead wife, taken to court

Gladys Khakali, mother to the late Florence Nasimiyu, who was disowned by her husband Patrick Mutoro in her death.

A family in Bungoma has resolved to go to court suing a man who disowned his own wife after she passed on.

Patrick Mutoro, a medical superintendent at Webuye Sub-county hospital is accused of abandoning the body of Florence Nasimiyu who he had married for 20 years, after she passed on on Thursday, April 12 at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Gladys Khakali, mother of the late Nasimiyu says the man disowned her daughter immediately she submitted to a chronic ailment she was diagnosed with last year.

“My son-in-law turned against my daughter immediately she passed on yet they have three children together. I have tried to talk to him but he has become hostile saying we can take him to court if we want leaving us with no option than seeking legal redress,” said Khakali.

Khakali’s lawyer Geoffrey Kisilia said he has already worked on the pleadings and will file the matter at the Eldoret Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 23, under certificate of urgency.

“Mutoro married Nasimiyu and paid full bride price according to the Luhya customary laws hence he is required to bury her as his wife. The deceased’s family accepted they received the dowry which bars them from burying their daughter,” said the lawyer.

According to him (the lawyer), Luhya customary laws bar men from burying their wives in their matrimonial homes, only if they have not completed paying bride price.

“It is unfortunate the man has refused to request the court to compel him to do so because that is the only home the deceased can be identified with since she was married there in 2002,” added Kisilia.

Mutoro on the other hand says he has strong reasons behind his decision and is ready to face his mother-in-law in court.

” I would prefer the matter to be heard privately in the chambers though,” said Mutoro.